By Nasratu Kargbo
Arguments and undertones were made by the main opposition party All People’s Congress (APC) disapproving the likelihood of an agreement for a product- tracking company SICPA to operate in Sierra Leone, which they say is a burden on the citizens.
Representing Constituency 059Abdul Karim Kamara on the 27th October 2022 explained to Politico that the agreement requires producing companies to pay SICPA for doing a head count of each product being produced, which he said will cause companies to increase the price of their goods which will in turn affect the masses.
When asked that the Deputy Minister Minister of Finance Sheku F. Bangura had stated that no tax will be levied on the companies, the MP explained that companies seek to create profit and that if they have to pay tax and to also pay SICPA for their services, the fear is the companies will increase price of goods.
Speaking on the positive, Kamara stated that at first instance the agreement looks good, noting that the company will be charged with the responsibility of doing head count for all products being imported and those produced in the country. Kamara added that it is done in order to get the accurate number of taxation that should be levied on producing companies so that government will get the correct revenue.
The MP explained that the economic hardship is too much, with commodities in the market expensive, and that adding burden on the companies will reflect on the people.
According to Kamara, he doubts the credibility of the company. He explained that other countries have stopped the company from operating. “If countries are terminating contracts with a company, why do you want to harbor that company in your country?” Kamara asked.
Speaking in the well of parliament MP from Constituency 132 Ibrahim Tawa Conteh said that agreement is non-controversial. He explained that the agreement will tackle the problem of illicit trade, substandard goods, tax evasion and under declaration, which he said hugely affects revenue generation in the country.
Stating the good works that SICPA has done in other countries, the MP stated that “systematically they have leverage their work plan on the works of other credible institutions”. He noted that if one looks at the work plan, one will find out that the country will gain additional 30 to 40% revenue added to the existing revenue.
Conteh noted that products such as tobacco and water are imported to the country in huge quantity, but that one does not know the taxes being paid for the products. Conteh added that if such a project can give concise details and monitor properly, the country will make huge revenue from it.
He added that with the tracking system, the country will be able to track the goods meant to be sold in the country, noting that the country loses a lot because there are no proper tracking system.
Following a supposedly 10 minute’s adjournment by the Speaker of Parliament Chernor Abass Bundu in order for MPs to call on colleagues to vote on the motion, the Speaker returned to the well with a decision to adjourn the sitting to today.
The proceedings ended with one side of the aisle expressing facial and verbal disapproval, whilst smiles and tapping of desks happened on the other side.
Copyright © 2022 Politico Online (28/10/22)
